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At least 37 records · Page 2

Biosensors for the detection of chorismate and cis,cis -muconic acid in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Abstract Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 is a promising microbial chassis for industrial production of valuable compounds, including aromatic amino acids derived from the shikimate pathway. In this work, we developed two whole-cell, transcription factor based fluorescent biosensors to track cis,cis-muconic acid (ccMA) and chorismate in C. glutamicum. Chorismate is a key intermediate in the shikimate pathway from which value-added chemicals can be produced, and a shunt from the shikimate pathway can divert carbon to ccMA, a high value chemical. We transferred a ccMA-inducible transcription factor, CatM, from Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 into C. glutamicum and screened a promoter library to isolate variants with high sensitivity and dynamic range to ccMA by providing benzoate, which is converted to ccMA intracellularly. The biosensor also detected exogenously supplied ccMA, suggesting the presence of a putative ccMA transporter in C. glutamicum, though the external ccMA concentration threshold to elicit a response was 100-fold higher than the concentration of benzoate required to do so through intracellular ccMA production. We then developed a chorismate biosensor, in which a chorismate inducible promoter regulated by natively expressed QsuR was optimized to exhibit a dose-dependent response to exogenously supplemented quinate (a chorismate precursor). A chorismate–pyruvate lyase encoding gene, ubiC, was introduced into C. glutamicum to lower the intracellular chorismate pool, which resulted in loss of dose dependence to quinate. Further, a knockout strain that blocked the conversion of quinate to chorismate also resulted in absence of dose dependence to quinate, validating that the chorismate biosensor is specific to intracellular chorismate pool. The ccMA and chorismate biosensors were dually inserted into C. glutamicum to simultaneously detect intracellularly produced chorismate and ccMA. Biosensors, such as those developed in this study, can be applied in C. glutamicum for multiplex sensing to expedite pathway design and optimization through metabolic engineering in this promising chassis organism. One-Sentence Summary High-throughput screening of promoter libraries in Corynebacterium glutamicum to establish transcription factor based biosensors for key metabolic intermediates in shikimate and β-ketoadipate pathways.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Desulfatiglans anilini Initiates Degradation of Aniline With the Production of Phenylphosphoamidate and 4-Aminobenzoate as Intermediates Through Synthases and Carboxylases From Different Gene Clusters

The anaerobic degradation of aniline was studied in the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfatiglans anilini. Our aim was to identify the genes and their proteins that are required for the initial activation of aniline as well as to characterize intermediates of this reaction. Aniline-induced genes were revealed by comparison of the proteomes of D. anilini grown with different substrates (aniline, 4- aminobenzoate, phenol, and benzoate). Most genes encoding proteins that were highly abundant in aniline- or 4-aminobenzoate-grown D. anilini cells but not in phenol- or benzoate-grown cells were located in the putative gene clusters ani (aniline degradation), hcr (4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA reductase) and phe (phenol degradation). Of these putative gene clusters, only the phe gene cluster has been studied previously. Based on the differential proteome analysis, four candidate genes coding for kinase subunits and carboxylase subunits were suspected to be responsible for the initial conversion of aniline to 4-aminobenzoate. These genes were cloned and overproduced in E. coli. The recombinant proteins were obtained in inclusion bodies but could be refolded successfully. Two subunits of phenylphosphoamidate synthase and two carboxylase subunits converted aniline to 4-aminobenzoate with phenylphosphoamidate as intermediate under consumption of ATP. Only when both carboxylase subunits, one from gene cluster ani and the other from gene cluster phe, were combined, phenylphosphoamidate was converted to 4-aminobenzoate in vitro, with Mn 2+ , K + , and FMN as co-factors. Thus, aniline is degraded by the anaerobic bacterium D. anilini only by recruiting genes for the enzymatic machinery from different gene clusters. We conclude, that D. anilini carboxylates aniline to 4-aminobenzoate via phenylphosphoamidate as an energy rich intermediate analogous to the degradation of phenol to 4-hydroxybenzoate via phenylphosphate.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

The polymorphic and mesomorphic behavior of four esters of cholesterol.

The techniques of differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffractometry, and positron annihilation have been used to study the polymorphic and mesomorphic behavior of the following esters of cholesterol: cholesteryl formate, cholesteryl butyrate, cholesteryl benzoate, and cholesteryl cinnamate. Each of these compounds exhibits a single mesophase of the cholesteric type. The solid phase formed from the melt for each ester was observed to be structurally different from the solid phase obtained from solution. Solvents from which the solution-grown samples were crystallized were as follows: cholesteryl formate and cholesteryl butyrate from acetone, cholesteryl benzoate from benzene, and cholesteryl cinnamate from 2-butanone.

Merritt, W. G.↗

Radiolysis of Macromolecular Organic Material in Mars-Relevant Mineral Matrices

The fate of organic material on Mars after deposition is crucial to interpreting the source of these molecules. Previous work has addressed how various organic compounds at millimeter depths in sediments respond to ultraviolet radiation. In contrast, this study addressed how high‐energy particle radiation (200‐MeV protons, simulating the effect of galactic cosmic rays and solar wind at depths of <4–5 cm) influences organic macromolecules in sediments. Specifically, we report the generation of organic‐acid radiolysis products after exposure to radiation doses equivalent to geological time scales (1–7 Myr). We found that formate and oxalate were produced from a variety of organic starting materials and mineral matrices. Unlike ultraviolet‐driven reactions that can invoke Fenton chemistry to produce organic acids, our work suggests that irradiation of semiconductor surfaces, such as TiO2 or possible clay minerals found on Mars, forms oxygen and hydroxyl radical species, which can break down macromolecules into organic acids. We also investigated the metastability of benzoate in multiple mineral matrices. Benzoate was added to samples prior to irradiation and persisted up to 500 kGys of exposure. Our findings suggest that organic acids are likely a major component of organic material buried at depth on Mars.

Fox, A. C.↗

Polyethylene Terephthalate Deconstruction Catalyzed by a Carbon‐Supported Single‐Site Molybdenum‐Dioxo Complex

Abstract Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is selectively depolymerized by a carbon‐supported single‐site molybdenum‐dioxo catalyst to terephthalic acid (PTA) and ethylene. The solventless reactions are most efficient under 1 atmosphere of H 2 . The catalyst exhibits high stability and can be recycled multiple times without loss of activity. Waste beverage bottle PET or a PET + polypropylene (PP) mixture (simulating the bottle + cap) proceeds at 260 °C with complete PET deconstruction and quantitative PTA isolation. Mechanistic studies with a model diester, 1,2‐ethanediol dibenzoate, suggest the reaction proceeds by initial retro‐hydroalkoxylation/β‐C−O scission and subsequent hydrogenolysis of the vinyl benzoate intermediate.

Kratish, Yosi↗

Density Functional Theory Guided Investigation of Ligand‐Induced Neptunyl‐Neptunyl Interactions

Abstract Actinyl‐actinyl interactions are particularly prevalent for the pentavalent neptunyl cation (Np(V)O 2 ) + where these interactions appear either as a T ‐ or D ‐shape (diamond‐shape). T ‐shaped interactions have been previously identified in high concentration Np(V) solutions containing simple anions (NO 3 − , ClO 4 − , Cl − ) whereas D ‐shaped have only been isolated in the solid‐state in the presence of carboxylate ligands. In this study, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were paired with Raman spectroscopy to evaluate the formation of D ‐shaped interactions in the presence of aliphatic (R=H (formate), CH 3 (acetate), CH 2 CH 3 (propionate)) and aromatic (R=C 6 H 5 (benzoate), C 6 H 4 OH (4‐hydroxybenzoate), C 5 H 4 N (isonicotinate)) carboxylate ligands. DFT studies indicate that the Δ G to form hydrated T ‐ and D ‐shaped forms are not spontaneous but become so with the addition of the carboxylate ligands. Raman spectra of the Np(V) carboxylate solutions contained vibrational modes associated with the D ‐shaped interactions, but spectral changes observed over time indicate a dynamic system. Crystallization experiments from the Np(V) carboxylate systems confirmed the presence of D‐ shaped dimers for the aromatic carboxylates, suggesting that the choice of the anion in solution favors actinyl‐actinyl interactions even at low concentrations (≤20 mM) of Np(V).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Evaluation of different getter substrates using two-dimensional gas chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry

We report while understanding hydrogen uptake by organic based getters such as 1,4-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene (DEB) combined with a palladium(0)bis(dibenzylideneacetone) (Pd(dba) 2 ) catalyst is essential, another crucial element to understand is the decomposition of the DEB, Pd(dba) 2 , and/or substrate material. The breakdown of these materials may create unwanted volatiles, which may interact with and lead to deterioration of sensitive materials. Moreover, it is critical to understand if different substrates cause the getter and/or catalyst to degrade in different manners. Utilizing comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS), the presence of volatiles located in the headspace of various DEB/Pd(dba) 2 getter substrates is examined. These samples include a getter infused silicone foam, a hydrogenated getter infused silicone foam, an activated carbon getter pellet, and a hydrogenated activated carbon getter pellet. Application of Fisher ratio (F-ratio) analyses lead to the identification of several compounds that are generated or consumed through the hydrogenation process. These include benzene derivatives such as bibenzyl, benzaldehyde, and vinyl benzoate in the activated carbon pellets and 1,5-diphenyl-3-pentanone, toluene, styrene, and 1–1'(2-pentene 1,5-diyl)bis benzene in the silicone foams, and alkane/alkene derivatives such undecane, 4-tridecene, and decane in the activated carbon pellets and 2,6-dimethyl undecane in the silicone foams. Further comparison of the different hydrogenated getter substrates (e.g. activated carbon pellet and silicone foam) indicates that the different substrates alter the decomposition products created from the degradation of the DEB and Pd(dba) 2 .

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Importance of hydrogen bonding in base-catalyzed transesterification reactions with vicinal diols

The transesterification reaction kinetics of 2-(benzoyloxy)ethyl benzoate with various alcohols (ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1-butanol, propylene glycol and 1,2-butylene glycol) using various cyclic amidine catalysts were investigated. For transesterification with excess glycol (glycolysis), the rate was nearly zero order in diester and glycol concentration, which is substantially different from classical transesterification kinetics with mono-alcohols. The measured kinetic parameters during glycolysis are consistent with a reaction path that is kinetically limited by the decomposition of the reaction intermediate formed from the alkoxide and diester. The DFT-calculated reaction energy and activation barrier for decomposition of this intermediate reveal a critical role of intramolecular hydrogen-bond stabilization made possible by the vicinal –OH of the glycol that effectively increases the concentration of the intermediate during reaction resulting in acceleration of the overall transesterification rate. In conclusion, these findings indicate the nature of both the alcohol solvent and the catalyst influence transesterification rate, and results suggest they are also important in the deconstruction of carbonyl-containing condensation polymers.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Tuning the Conductivity of Hexa-Zirconium(IV) Metal–Organic Frameworks by Encapsulating Heterofullerenes

Electrical conductivity in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has a great potential for energy storage applications and electrocatalysis. Zirconium-based MOFs such as NU-901 and NU-1000 have a low electrical conductivity due to the redox innocence of Zr–oxo bonds. Recently, it has been shown that the electrical conductivity of NU-901 can be increased by 11 orders of magnitude by physically encapsulating fullerene (C 60 ) in its diamond pore. This effect is due to the host–guest interaction between the electron-rich 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(p-benzoate)pyrene (TBAPy 4– ) organic linkers of NU-901 (host) and the electron-poor fullerene (guest). Herein, we used density functional theory to study heterofullerene (C 59 X; X = B, Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, and Sn) encapsulation in NU-901. Furthermore, our study suggests that encapsulated heterofullerenes enhance the electrical conductivity of the NU-901 MOF even further than C 60 .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effects of Halides on Organic Compound Degradation during Plasma Treatment of Brines

Plasma has been proposed as an alternative strategy to treat organic contaminants in brines. Chemical degradation in these systems is expected to be partially driven by halogen oxidants, which have been detected in halide-containing solutions exposed to plasma. In this study, we characterized specific mechanisms involving the formation and reactions of halogen oxidants during plasma treatment. Here, we first demonstrated that addition of halides accelerated the degradation of a probe compound known to react quickly with halogen oxidants (i.e., para -hydroxybenzoate) but did not affect the degradation of a less reactive probe compound (i.e., benzoate). This effect was attributed to the degradation of para-hydroxybenzoate by hypohalous acids, which were produced via a mechanism involving halogen radicals as intermediates. We applied this mechanistic insight to investigate the impact of constituents in brines on reactions driven by halogen oxidants during plasma treatment. Bromide, which is expected to occur alongside chloride in brines, was required to enable halogen oxidant formation, consistent with the generation of halogen radicals from the oxidation of halides by hydroxyl radical. Other constituents typically present in brines (i.e., carbonates, organic matter) slowed the degradation of organic compounds, consistent with their ability to scavenge species involved during plasma treatment.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Insights into Active Sites and Mechanisms of Benzyl Alcohol Oxidation on Nickel–Iron Oxyhydroxide Electrodes

The electrochemical oxidation of bio-derived molecules has recently garnered interest for its potential in opening electrified synthetic pathways toward value-added products. Herein, we investigate the electrochemical conversion of benzyl alcohol (BA) to benzaldehyde and benzoate on nickel–iron (Fe ~ 7–18%) electrodes as a model system to understand reaction mechanisms and environmental conditions that can transform these molecules. Our results indicate a strong correlation between benzyl alcohol oxidation (BAO) onset potentials and Ni(II/III) redox peak positions, highlighting the potential role that lower oxidation states of nickel, i.e., Ni 3+ , can play in BAO catalysis. Our work on the Ni 2+/3+ system complements mechanisms that involve higher oxidation states of Ni as reported by others. We note that the Ni redox position and thus BAO onset is impacted by Fe incorporation during electrochemistry from unpurified electrolytes, which can resemble standard reactor operating conditions. We perform a systematic computational investigation into BAO and provide density functional theory (DFT) insights into how the redox mechanism has been such a prominent focus of alcohol oxidations. This includes the mode of BA adsorption and the nature of the adsorption site; upon conversion of the Ni 2+ surface to active Ni 3+ via hydroxyl deprotonation, BAO is thermodynamically downhill. Our DFT study also introduces the possibility of a vacancy-driven mechanism, though expected to be less prevalent during catalysis than the redox mechanism for a Ni 3+ surface. Through the systematic investigation of experimental reaction conditions and computational free energy thermodynamics, we have gained valuable insights into BAO reaction mechanisms that inform catalytic activity. Our study opens avenues for further design and development of catalyst active sites for the oxidation of related organic molecules.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

An Improved CRISPR Interference Tool to Engineer Rhodococcus opacus

Rhodococcus opacus is a non-model bacterium that is well suited for valorizing lignin. Despite recent advances in our systems-level understanding of its versatile metabolism, studies of its gene functions at a single gene level are still lagging. Elucidating gene functions in non-model organisms is challenging due to limited genetic engineering tools that are convenient to use. To address this issue, we developed a simple gene repression system based on CRISPR interference (CRISPRi). This gene repression system uses a T 7 RNA polymerase system to express a small guide RNA, demonstrating improved repression compared to the previously demonstrated CRISPRi system (i.e., the maximum repression efficiency improved from 58% to 85%). Additionally, our cloning strategy allows for building multiple CRISPRi plasmids in parallel without any PCR step, facilitating the engineering of this GC-rich organism. Using the improved CRISPRi system, we confirmed the annotated roles of four metabolic pathway genes, which had been identified by our previous transcriptomic analysis to be related to the consumption of benzoate, vanillate, catechol, and acetate. Furthermore, we showed our tool’s utility by demonstrating the inducible accumulation of muconate that is a precursor of adipic acid, an important monomer for nylon production. While the maximum muconate yield obtained using our tool was 30% of the yield obtained using gene knockout, our tool showed its inducibility and partial repressibility. In conclusion, our CRISPRi tool will be useful to facilitate functional studies of this non-model organism and engineer this promising microbial chassis for lignin valorization.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Genome-resolved correlation mapping links microbial community structure to metabolic interactions driving methane production from wastewater

Anaerobic digestion of municipal mixed sludge produces methane that can be converted into renewable natural gas. To improve economics of this microbial mediated process, metabolic interactions catalyzing biomass conversion to energy need to be identified. Here, we present a two-year time series associating microbial metabolism and physicochemistry in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant. By creating a co-occurrence network with thousands of time-resolved microbial populations from over 100 samples spanning four operating configurations, known and novel microbial consortia with potential to drive methane production were identified. Interactions between these populations were further resolved in relation to specific process configurations by mapping metagenome assembled genomes and cognate gene expression data onto the network. Prominent interactions included transcriptionally active Methanolinea methanogens and syntrophic benzoate oxidizing Syntrophorhabdus , as well as a Methanoregulaceae population and putative syntrophic acetate oxidizing bacteria affiliated with Bateroidetes (Tenuifilaceae) expressing the glycine cleavage bypass of the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Nanocluster superstructures assembled via surface ligand switching at high temperature

Superstructures with nanoscale building blocks, when coupled with precise control of the constituent units, open opportunities in rationally designing and manufacturing desired functional materials. Yet, synthetic strategies for the large-scale production of superstructures are scarce. We report a scalable and generalized approach to synthesizing superstructures assembled from atomically precise Ce24O28(OH)8 and other rare-earth metal-oxide nanoclusters alongside a detailed description of the self-assembly mechanism. Combining operando small-angle X-ray scattering, ex situ molecular and structural characterizations, and molecular dynamics simulations indicates that a high-temperature ligand-switching mechanism, from oleate to benzoate, governs the formation of the nanocluster assembly. The chemical tuning of surface ligands controls superstructure disassembly and reassembly, and furthermore, enables the synthesis of multicomponent superstructures. Here, this synthetic approach, and the accurate mechanistic understanding, are promising for the preparation of superstructures for use in electronics, plasmonics, magnetics and catalysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Mesoporous silica-encapsulated gold core–shell nanoparticles for active solvent-free benzyl alcohol oxidation

Silica-encapsulated gold core@shell nanoparticles (Au@SiO2 CSNPs) were synthesized via a bottom-up procedure and used to catalyze the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol. The pore size, morphology, crystallinity and composition of Au@SiO2 was evaluated using non-local density functional theory, transmission electron microscopy, high-energy x-ray diffraction and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, respectively. The nanoparticles exhibit a mesoporous shell with an average thickness of 25.5 Å which can enhance selectivity via preferential transport of the desired product (i.e., benzaldehyde) relative to larger, undesired products (i.e, benzoic acid/benzyl benzoate). GC-FID analysis revealed the addition of potassium carbonate to the solvent-free oxidation of benzyl alcohol increased conversion from 17.3 to 60.4% while decreasing selectivity from 98.7 to 75.0%. Under equivalent conditions, a bare gold nanoparticle control catalyst deposited on a silica support with a similar gold surface area took 6 times as long to reach the same conversion, achieving only 49.4% selectivity. These results suggest that the pore size distribution within the inert silica shell of Au@SiO2 CSNPs inhibits the formation of undesired products to facilitate the selective oxidation of benzaldehyde despite a basic environment, which reduces selectivity under typical conditions. The CSNPs demonstrated a much lower activation energy than the Au-SiO2 control catalyst, 37 ± 1.9 kJ/mol and 72 ± 7.1 kJ/mol, respectively. Thiele modulus analysis indicates the CSNP pore structure does not create a mass transport limitation due to the nano-scale path of diffusion through the pore structure to the active surface. The lower activation energy and mesopore distribution together suggest the Au@SiO2 catalyst demonstrates higher activity through beneficial in-pore orientation, both reducing competitive adsorption and promoting a single, lower activation energy mechanistic pathway.

benzyl alcohol oxidation, catalysis, confinement↗

Luminescent and magnetic [TbEu] 2D metal–organic frameworks

Here, we present the synthesis, through a simple, microwave-assisted method, of lanthanoid-based 2D metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) of general formula [Ln x Ln' 1–x (MeCOO)(PhCOO) 2 ], including homonuclear compounds (x = 1), Ln$=$Eu, Tb, and heterometallic compounds, [TbEu]. The crystalline material is formed by neutral nanosheets held together by van der Waals interactions, which can be easily exfoliated by sonication. Photoluminescent emission in the visible range was observed for all of the synthesized 2D MOF compounds via excitation of the ligand, showing benzoates are efficient antenna ligands. Efficient energy transfer from Tb → Eu was observed in the heterometallic [TbEu] compounds, which could potentially perform as luminescent thermometers. Inks containing nanosheets of 2D MOFs exfoliated in solution were prepared, and luminescent prints of Tb and Eu 2D MOFs on paper were made to show the possible application for anticounterfeiting. Frequency-dependent ac susceptibility results show the occurrence of slow magnetic relaxation in [TbEu] compounds through direct relaxation mechanisms, affected by bottleneck effect. A slowing down of the relaxation time is observed as the Eu/Tb ratio increases.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Thermodynamically leveraged solventless aerobic deconstruction of polyethylene-terephthalate plastics over a single-site molybdenum-dioxo catalyst

Here, we describe the solventless catalytic deconstruction of polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) under an aerobic atmosphere, mediated by an earth-abundant, low-cost activated carbon (AC)-supported single-site molybdenum-dioxo catalyst (AC/MoO 2 ). Catalytic amounts of AC/MoO 2 selectively convert waste PET into its monomer, terephthalic acid (TPA), within 4 h at 265 °C with yields as high as 94% under 1 atm air. Pure crystalline TPA product sublimes from the reaction hot zone, crystallizing on the reactor cold zone, thus avoiding the need for separation and purification steps. This process does not employ any hazardous/toxic reducing agents or solvents, and the catalyst can be recycled multiple times without loss of activity, rendering this process highly atom-efficient. According to computational and experimental mechanistic studies, the AC/MoO 2 catalyst mediates a thermoneutral metal-catalyzed β-scission step, followed by an exothermic step that converts the vinyl benzoate intermediate to TPA and acetaldehyde using trace amounts of moisture in the air. The formation of gaseous acetaldehyde makes the isolation of TPA from the reaction mixture facile and industrially favorable, especially since solvents are unnecessary. The present methodology is also extended to the deconstruction of other frequently used polyester plastics, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), and polyethylene furanoate (PEF), and operates equally well with post-consumer waste products. Notably, this process is also compatible with plastic mixtures of polyesters with polyolefins, polyamides, and polycarbonates, leading to the selective conversion of each polyester to the corresponding monomer, leaving the residual polymer unchanged and polyester-free.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗